Closure combination and elements thereof



g- 1959 .1. B. TAYLOR m, ET AL 2,900,103

CLOSURE COMBINATION AND ELEMENTS THEREOF Filed Feb. 8, 1955 INVENTORJames B, Tag/o,- .22

Q901 e ,Baw'ac/qs M [M I qa'qJ-oq ATTORNEYS CLOSURE COMBINATION ANDELEMENTS THEREOF JamesB. Taylor 1H, Fairfield, and George W. iiarradas,Stamford, Conn., assignors, by mesne assignments, to American Flange andManufacturing 'Co., Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of DelawareApplication February 8, 1955, Serial No. 486,802

1 Claim. (Cl. 220-39) This invention relates to closures for containers,and more especially to the combination with a conventional snap-on,snap-off closure of certain novel elements by which the closure is moreefiectively sealed against escapeof the contents of the container and bywhich the closure is adapted to receive a dispensing nozzle. Theinvention also includes the novel elements of the combinationindividually. More particularly, the invention relatesto a snap-on,snap-off closure for large containers, for example conventional 55gallon drums.

Heretofore the closures for large containers such as theSS gallon drumsmentioned have been of the threaded plug type. It has not been thoughtsuitable to provide such containers with a conventional snap-on,snap-off type closure because of the large size of the closure requiredtherefor and the difiiculty encountered therewith in maintaining properclosure sealing when the containers are subjected to normal roughhandling. In an effort, however, to adapt a snap-on, snap-off closure touse with 55 gallon drums and the like because of the extremely largesaving in cost that could be effected, considerable development work hasbeen done. This development work was involved with two problems, thefirst being that mentioned above, namely, obtaining a satisfactory sealdespite rough handling of the drums, and thesecond being the desire fora closure which could be replaced for dispensing of the contents of thedrum, as has been the threaded plug type, with a valve type nozzle.

' It has been suggested by others, in connection with a solution to thefirst problem, to employ in combination with the snap-on, snap-01f cap adiaphragm adapted to span the discharge Opening of the drum, the centralportion ofthe diaphragm being dished to extend inwardly into saidopening and away from said cap and further being substantially conicalin shape. This diaphragm was to be held across the discharge opening bythe snapon and snap-01f cap. The theory of its function was, first, thata cushion would be provided to absorb the initial impact of the contentsof the container on the closure during handling and, secondly, that theconical dishingfof the central portion of the diaphragm would direct thecontents of the can impinging thereon outwardly, toward the edge thereofto be absorbed at the strongest portion of the closure. While theinclusion of such a diaphragm in a conventional snap-on, snap-off typeclosure improves the sealing characteristics thereof, during tests itwas found that leakage still occurred. It is thought that at leastpartially responsible for this is the fact that the contents aredirected by the dished portion of the diaphragm to concentrate on theseal.

This invention contemplates the provision on a diaphragm of theaforementioned type and shape of means to deflect the 'main portion ofthe contents of the container impinging on the diaphragm, and redirectedby theconical section thereof, from the sealing section thereof. Morespecifically, the invention contemplates the provision of an' annularridge formed on and extending from the dished face of the diaphragmintermediate the extent thereof. v a The invention also contemplates theprovision in the closure combination of an annular insert adapted to bemounted within the discharge opening of the con tainer threadingly toreceive, after removalof a snap-on,

snap-01f cap, a valve type nozzle. In this connection "it alsocontemplates that if desirable the outer face of the annular ridge ofthe diaphragm may be itself threaded to threadingly engage the threadedinner face of'the insert whereby the closure seal is still furtherimproved; Both the insert and the diaphragm are contemplated as beingmade of flexible material such as a plastic material;

The invention, in addition, contemplates the employcertain extent aconventional plug-like closure.

For a more detailed understanding of the invention, reference may bemade to the following specific descrip-- tion of two forms thereof takenin connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an expanded elevational view of one form of the closure; r

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation thereof; and r Fig. 3 is a sectionalelevation of the second form of the invention including closure.

In the drawings a section of a container with whichthe closure iscombined is represented by the reference numeral 10. As seen mostclearly in Fig. 2, what has come to be termed a nozzle 11 is formedintegrally with and extending from a wall 12 of container 10. Nozzle 11is so formed that it has an underhanging portion 13; an inner annularchannel portion 14 and a rim portion 15. A conventional snap-on,snap-01f closure 16 made. of a substantially spring type metal andprovided-with a plurality of spring legs 17 is adapted to overlie nozzle11 with the spirng legs 17 thereof in firm contact with the outer facethereof and having their terminal portions extending into firm contactwith underhanging portion .13 of the nozzle. As illustrated, thesnap-on, snap-off cap is in closed position on nozzle 11. To remove it,pressure need merely be applied to'the central portion of its upper facewhich results in an inversion thereof and a1 springing out of springlegs 17 from their contact with nozzle 11. To replace the cap on thenozzle it is merely placed thereon and pressure applied laterally tospring legs 17 whereby the upper portion of the cap is inverted back toits position as shown and the spring legs are thereby urged into firmcontact with the nozzle as shown. As indicated, this construction is.conventional, thoughv heretofore the nozzle 11 has more often than notbeen formed separately from the end wall of the container and securedthereto, after formation, as by soldering. I

It has also been heretofore conventional to provide the closure with atamper-proof seal 19 as illustrated in Fig. 1. This tamper-proof seal 19comprises an annular skirt portion 20 adapted, when the seal is inposition, to sur-. round spring legs 17. An annular inwardly extendingpor-, tion 21 of the seal 19 is adapted to overlie the snap-on,"snap-off cap and has a tear strip 22 extending thereacross. After seal19 has been applied tooverlie cap 16, the lower edge portion of itsflange 20, which extends downwardlybeyond the extremities ofspring legs17, is crimped inwardly by any suitable means. Seal 19 prevents removalof the cap because its flange 20 prevents outward move ment of springlegs 17 even though the central 'portiOnTof the cap is subjected tonormal operating pressures. H'encej for removal of the cap,oncetamper-proof seal 19 has been 1C Patented Aug. 18,1959 j a flatdiaphragm plug-likeapplied, one must first remove the tamper-proof seal.Tear strip 22, which extends through a weakened section of annularportions 20 and 21 of the seal, may be torn for this purpose.

.The. above structure is all conventional and has been employed for someyears in connection with relatively small size containers. As heretoforeindicated, however, it has not been suitable for use in connection withlarge containers such as 55 gallon drums. In accordance with thisinventionit can be made useful for such purpose by incorporating incombination with it the two elements illustrated in Fig. 2, namely, aninsert 25 and a diaphragm 30.

The insert 25 is annular in shape as shown and may be made of a suitableflexible material such as a plastic material. It has been found that a50-50 mixture of polyisobutylene and polyethylene is particularlysuitable for this purpose though certain types of polyethylene alone maybe employed as may other types of plastic having the necessarycharacteristics of resistance to attack by contents of drum andsufficient strength, etc. The insert 25 has a section 26 which is shapedto conform generally with the cross sectional shape of annular channel14 in nozzle 11 and is adapted to be received thereby when the insert isproperly in place as illustrated. The insert also has a tail section 27adapted to surround the inner face of underhanging portion 13 of thenozzle. A plurality of threads 28 are formed on the inner face of theinsert, their primary function being to threadedly receive and maintainfirmly within the insert and the nozzle a valve type discharge nozzlewhen the snap-on, snap-off cap 16 and diaphragm 30 have been removedfrom the closure for dispensing of the contents of the container 10.

Diaphragm 30 is generally circular in shape, having an annular rimportion 31, the outer diameter of which is substantially equal to theinner diameter of cap 16. The central portion of the diaphragm isconically dished as at 32 to extend inwardly into nozzle 11 and awayfrom cap 16. The diaphragm is also made of course of a flexible materialwhich may also be, if desirable, 50-50 polyisobutylene and polyethylene.The function of the diaphragm is, first, to provide limited sealingbetween cap 16 and rim portion 15 of nozzle 11. Section 32 of thediaphragm acts as a cushion because of the nature of the material fromwhich it is made and the entrapped air between it and cap 16 toresiliently absorb the initial shock of any of the contents of containerimpinging thereon. This portion of the diaphragm also acts to deflectsuch portion of the contents away from the center of the diaphragmtoward the outer edges thereof where the closure is strongest. It hasbeen found, however, that if the inner face of the diaphragm is smooth,the directing of the container contents toward the seal between the rim31 of the diaphragm and rim of nozzle 11 may breach the seal. Toovercome this, an annular ridge 33 is formed on and extends from theinner face of the diaphragm intermediate the extent thereof. Ridge 33extends axially of the closure and, as shown, may be provided withthreads which are adapted to interengage with threads 28 of insert 25.

Threaded ridge 33 performs two functions. First it acts to deflect thecontents of the container, which impinge upon the diaphragm and aredeflected by the central portion thereof outwardly, from direct actionon the seal between rim 31 of the diaphragm and rim 15 of the nozzle.Secondly, its threaded engagement with threaded insert 25 in itselfprovides an additional very effective seal.

Turning now to Fig. 3, in which is illustrated the other form ourinvention may take, the same reference numerals primed are employed toindicate the parts and portions thereof which are the same as thecorresponding parts or portions of the form illustrated in Figs. 1 and2. Hence, the container is indicated at 10 and has a wall 12' from whichan integral nozzle 11 is formed with an underhanging portion 13', aninner annular chamber portion 14' and a rim portion 15. Nozzle 11 isadapted to receive a snap-on, snap-off closure 16' and over this, ifdesirable, a tamper-proof seal 19. Closure 16 has, as previouslyindicated, spring legs 17. This form of the invention also includes theuse of the same type of insert 25 as used in the previously describedform which has a section 26 shaped to conform generally with the crosssectional shape of annular channel 14' and adapted to be receivedthereby when the insert is properly in place, as illustrated. Thedifference between this form of the invention and that previouslydescribed lies wholly in the construction of the plug-like diaphragmmember 40.

The plug-like diaphragm 40 includes a flat diaphragm section 41 havingintegrally formed therewith at its outer edge an annular upright ridgeor flange portion 42. The outer face of this ridge or flange 42 isthreaded so that the plug-like diaphragm member 40 may be threaded intoand received by insert 25' as illustrated. Around its upper edge flangeor ridge 42 is provided with an integral outwardly extending rim portion43 similar to annular rim portion 31 of the diaphragm member of Fig. 2which forms a seal with rim portion 15' of nozzle 11' when closuremember 16' is applied to the nozzle. To enable the plug-like diaphragmmember 40 to be readily inserted and removed from insert 25', we provideit with an integral partition-like member 44 which is fairly heavy insection at its opposite ends. In this manner the plug-like diaphragmmember 40 may be turned with conventional tools.

While it is contemplated that the combination illustrated in Fig. 3 anddescribed above will include a snapon, snap-0E cap 16', it iscontemplated as a possibility that in some instances this cap might beomitted and a tamper-proof seal 19 alone be employed.

Various changes and modifications may of course be made in the novelelements illustrated and described without departing from the scope ofthe invention which should rather be limited only to the extent setforth in the appended claim. For example, if it is not desired that athreaded nozzle be usable with the closure, insert 25 may be omitted. Inthis case, ridge 33 of the diaphragm would not be threaded. In addition,it is possible, though not probable, that the insert 25 might beemployed and the diaphragm 30 not be or that it be replaced by aconventional gasket.

This application is a continuation-in-part of our application Ser. No.476,225, filed December 20, 1954 and now abandoned.

We claim:

In combination with a container having a metal discharge nozzle adaptedto be closed by a snap-on, snapoff cap, said nozzle having an interiorannular channnel extending completely therearound in a planesubstantially parallel to the plane of the discharge mouth of thenozzle, a closure consisting of an annular flexible resilient plasticinsert in the annular channel within said nozzle but readily removabletherefrom without damage to or deformation of said nozzle, the innerface of said insert having threads formed therein and the outer facethereof conforming generally in shape to the cross-sectional shape ofsaid channel, and a plastic diaphragm member spanning the openingthrough said nozzle, said diaphragm having an annular ridge or flangeformed on and projecting from one face thereof, the outer face of saidannular flange being threaded and threadably engaging the inner face ofsaid insert, said diaphragm member when in place in said insert servingto hold the later in said channel with the outer surface thereof insealing contact with the inner surface of the channel, said nozzle beingprovided with a flange at its outer end extending in a directiontransverse the axis of the noz zle and having its free edge defining thenozzle mouth, one end of the insert firmly engaging in sealing relationthe axial inner face of said nozzle flange and said diaphragm beingprovided with a resilient flange extending at right angles to thedirection of extent of the threaded ridge or flange thereof and pressingin sealing contact against the axial outer face of said nozzle flangethroughout the lateral extent thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS135,864 Thompson et a1. Feb. 11, 1873 6 Kelly June 21, 1921 Spang June26, 1928 Schwartz June 15, 1937 Curtis Nov. 29, 1938 Parker Mar. 31,1942 Sparks Jan. 25, 1944 Robinson Aug. 24, 1948 Rieke Nov. 27, 1956

